Cincinnati Reds Press Clippings April 4, 2016 THIS DAY IN REDS HISTORY 1988-The Reds win on Opening Day for the sixth consecutive season, 5-4, in 12 innings over the Cardinals MLB.COM Glimpse of budding talent as Phils visit Reds By Chad Thornburg / MLB.com | April 2nd, 2016 + 17 COMMENTS Throughout every rebuilding process, there comes a point when a franchise begins to see results. Young prospects break through to the Majors. The lineup starts clicking, the pitching staff finds its groove. Soon, the wins start to accumulate. The Phillies and Reds are hoping 2016 is that year. Both organizations have fallen out of contention in recent years but are in the midst of significant rebuilds. There are many reasons to be optimistic about each club's future, starting with an Opening Day contest in Cincinnati on Monday at 4:10 p.m. ET. Right-hander Jeremy Hellickson will get the start for the Phillies in the opener, while 26- year-old righty Raisel Iglesias goes for the Reds. The Phillies roster that will take the field at Great American Ball Park features some promising youth -- including third baseman Maikel Franco -- with more talent potentially on its way among the Minor League ranks. "This is the most talent we've had in the four years I've been here," said Phillies director of player development Joe Jordan. "We got to see all of our big prospects ... together in big league camp this year, and they all represented themselves very well. There are a lot of good things happening." Opening Day will be a first for new Phillies manager Pete Mackanin, who has managed only on an interim basis prior to this season. After a strong spring -- the Phillies entered Saturday 15-11 in Grapefruit League play -- Mackanin is optimistic his club will show improvement in 2016. "I think with our rotation, and the bullpen we're going to have, excluding the closer right now, I think we're going to be in a lot more games than we were last year," Mackanin said. "I think that's going to lead to more wins. How many remains to be seen." The Reds find themselves in a similar situation under second-year skipper Bryan Price. Cincinnati boasts some young talent but enters the year without a few familiar names after dealing third baseman Todd Frazier and closer Aroldis Chapman this winter. Outfielder Scott Schebler and infielder Jose Peraza -- part of the return in the Frazier trade -- are two new additions who could make an immediate impact. And even as the Reds trend toward youth, they'll still lean on a few veteran mainstays, including former All- Stars Brandon Phillips and Joey Votto. They'll also look to get more production out of catcher Devin Mesoraco, who played in just 23 games last season due to injuries. "I'm excited to have [Mesoraco] back for a multitude of reasons," Price said. "But having the offensive component certainly puts us in a position to be more productive offensively than we were last year." Phillies' projected Opening Day lineup Cesar Hernandez, 2B Odubel Herrera, CF Maikel Franco, 1B Ryan Howard, 1B Carlos Ruiz, C Peter Bourjos, RF Tyler Goeddel, LF Freddy Galvis, SS Jeremy Hellickson, RHP Reds' projected Opening Day lineup Zack Cozart, SS Eugenio Suarez, 3B Joey Votto, 1B Brandon Phillips, 2B Jay Bruce, RF Devin Mesoraco, C Adam Duvall, LF Raisel Iglesias, RHP Billy Hamilton, CF Peraza optioned, versatile Pacheco makes team 25-man roster not set until Bailey officially placed on DL Monday By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com | @m_sheldon | April 3rd, 2016 + 237 COMMENTS CINCINNATI -- The Reds made a flurry of last-minute moves on Sunday, ahead of Monday's Opening Day, but do not officially have a final 25-man roster. One of the odd men out is young infielder Jose Peraza, who was optioned to Triple-A Louisville. Ultimately, it was determined Peraza would not get enough at-bats at the big league level as a role player to keep his development going. He would have to fill in at up to four different positions if he made the club. "There was a lot of internal debate on what was best for the player," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "I think we all agree he's a big leaguer and could be playing here now, but it would be in a somewhat limited basis compared to what he'll do in Triple-A." The reason the final Opening Day roster is not quite official is the Reds have yet to make a move to put Homer Bailey on the disabled list. That will be done officially on Monday, the club said. With Tim Melville re-assigned to Triple-A Louisville, the Reds still need to select a starting pitcher for Thursday's game against the Phillies. If it's not Melville, one possibility might be No. 2 prospect Robert Stephenson, who was cut from the camp roster. "We have made a decision. We're just apparently not going to release it until [Monday]," Price said. Catcher Ramon Cabrera was also optioned to Triple-A Louisville, while reliever Dayan Diaz also was re-assigned to Louisville. Also not making the club is outfielder and Rule 5 player Jake Cave, who was designated for assignment. Cave was placed on waivers originally on Thursday. Utility player Jordan Pacheco has made the team and his contract was selected. Outfielder Tyler Holt, who was cut from the spring roster last week, was recalled from Triple-A Louisville. Pacheco was given the good news on Sunday as the team worked out at Great American Ball Park. His ability to play three infield spots and catch helped his cause. "I'm glad I'm able to be part of this team. I'm glad I'm able to help," Pacheco said. "Last year it was same thing with Arizona. It came down to the last couple of hours." Much of the bullpen was in flux until near the end of camp. The situation got murkier, though, when the team added pitchers in the closing days. "It's an awesome feeling being on the Opening Day roster," reliever Caleb Cotham said. "It will definitely be new to be there, but it's exciting and a great opportunity." Retroactive to March 25, starting pitchers Anthony DeSclafani, John Lamb, Michael Lorenzen and Jon Moscot were placed on the 15-day disabled list. Outfielder Yorman Rodriguez was placed on the 15-day DL retroactive to March 27. Catcher Kyle Skipworth is on the 15-day DL, retroactive to March 31. DeSclafani is still expected to be ready by April 10 to take the fifth starter's spot and pitch against the Pirates. Here is the breakdown of the Reds' roster: Position players (13): Joey Votto, Brandon Phillips, Zack Cozart, Eugenio Suarez, Billy Hamilton, Adam Duvall, Jay Bruce, Devin Mesoraco, Tucker Barnhart, Ivan De Jesus, Scott Schebler, Holt, Pacheco. Starting pitchers (3): Raisel Iglesias, Brandon Finnegan, Alfredo Simon. Bullpen (8): J.J. Hoover, Tony Cingrani, Jumbo Diaz, Cotham, Keyvius Sampson, Dan Straily, Ross Ohlendorf and Blake Wood. CINCINNATI ENQUIRER Reds' roster: Jose Peraza to start in AAA, Tyler Holt in big leagues C. Trent Rosecrans, [email protected] 2:58 p.m. EDT April 3, 2016 The 2016 Reds season will begin with another roster move. Although the team’s roster was due to Major League Baseball on Sunday, the one turned into the league office won’t be the official Opening Day roster. That will be made final when right-hander Homer Bailey is moved to the disabled list on Monday and another player is called up. That other player will likely be Thursday’s starter for the third game of the season, and that player is shrouded in mystery still. Top prospect Robert Stephenson could be that starter or it could be right-hander Tim Melville. We’ll find out on Monday. Welcome to the Reds 2016 season — a year in flux. Or depending on your perspective, a year in reflux. The Reds announced a total of 13 roster moves on Sunday afternoon to get their roster to 25. The biggest takeaways are that Jose Peraza will start the season in Triple-A, Tyler Holt will be in the big leagues and Jake Cave is in limbo. Peraza, the key piece of the trade that sent Todd Frazier to the White Sox, will start the season in Louisville, despite sticking with the team through their entire camp. Reds manager Bryan Price said there was plenty of “internal debate” on what was best for Peraza, and ultimately the decision was made for the 22-year-old to play every day in Louisville instead of playing a patchwork of positions in Cincinnati. “Push comes to shove, he wasn’t going to get six starts a week,” Price said of Peraza, who plays shortstop, second base and center field, and is even an option in left field. “There wasn’t any way to do that at this level. We just want him to be ready and I think everyone agrees he’s a big-league player.” Holt, who was reassigned to minor-league camp on Wednesday, was recalled on Sunday. He takes the outfield spot vacated by possibly Peraza, as well as Rule 5 pick Jake Cave. Cave was placed on waivers on Thursday, but because waivers aren’t processed this weekend, his fate won’t be known until Monday. If he clears waivers, the Reds must offer him back to the Yankees, who can purchase his contract for $25,000.